CHENNAI: Contractors not placing barricades for the ongoing storm water drain work will be penalised by the city corporation, with the estimated cost of barricading deducted from the final bill.
As per an internal communication on monsoon preparedness, the corporation on Thursday asked the 15 special IAS officers and regional deputy commissioners to inspect the barricading work. The officials must record the length of barricading done and the remaining length that needs to be barricaded. They must also fine the violators.
As per guidelines, Greater Chennai Corporation pays ₹124.5 per metre of barricading. The rules say the barricade must be continuous, interlocked with bolts and must be of iron. In reality, none of these rules is followed. The barricades are not continuous and are often metres away from the site, tied by a plastic rope. A TOI report which earlier this week highlighted how this caused a loss to the corporation exchequer and also put public safety at risk prompted the directions.
Chief engineer S Rajendiran said the corporation will note down the length of barricades placed and if they are metres apart, money will be deducted from the final bills. “If the contractor does not rectify after inspection and levy of fine, a police complaint will be lodged.” This is expected to bring in some accountability, he added.
Civic activist Dayanand Krishnan said it the move was welcome but wondered how the corporation would verify the bills presented for completed projects. “While processing the bills, apart from field assessments, the corporation must verify with photo proof. Contractors must send photos of continuous and interlocked barricading regularly to officials,” he said.
Presently, storm water drains are be laid over a distance of 1,058 km in packages across the city and officials have been told to monitor the progress, safety procedures and payment details to contractors.
Corporation deputy commissioner (works) M S Prasanth has been directed to inspect ongoing SWD work in Kosasthaliayar basin and projects in chief minister’s constituency Kolathur.
